Cleaning tool for suction cleaners



Ap 6, 1954 H. a. WHITE 2,674,002

CLEANING 'rooL FOR sucTIoN CLEANERS Filed Nov. 2, 1949 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Harry W/z te BY Muy SM ATTORNEY.

April 6, 1954 H. B. WHITE CLEANING TOOL FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed NOV. 2, 1949 INVENTOR. Harry I/I/Yu'le BY /9/ fr ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1954 CLEANING TOOL FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Harry B. White, Canton, Ohio, assigner to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 2, 1949, Serial No. 124,957

6 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of suction cleaners and more particularly to an improved surface cleaning tool of the type which is customarily applied to the surface to be cleaned on the end of a suction air conveying and manipulating wand connected by a flexible hose to a suction creating and filtering means.

Customarily, Wand manipulated suction air cleaning nozzles are Widely used to clean deep pile fabric surfaces such as carpets and more or less plain hard surfaces such as wood or linoleum flooring. The two types of surfaces above mentioned are best' cleaned by elements having distinctive characteristicswhich are conventionally provided in two distinctive cleaning tools.

It is an object of myinvention to provide a single cleaning'tool for suction cleaning apparatus which may selectively be utilized as a straight air cleaning member, a combined air cleaning and brushing member specially designed for deep pile fabric cleaning, or a brush nozzle structure especially designed for cleaning plain, hard surfaces.

It is accordingly a principal object of my present invention to provide a surface cleaning tool having a suction nozzle, a spring biased brush associated therewith which is selectively movable to operative and inoperative positions and an additional element adapted to seal against the aforementioned nozzle, to retract the aforesaid spring pressed brush into its seat, and to form an extension of the aforementioned nozzle for the purpose of cleaning bare floors such as wood, linoleum and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a cleaning tool embodying my invention illustrating the plane, hard surface cleaning apparatus in operative position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the apparatus in the condition in which it is adapted for cleaning carpets;

Figure 3 is a partial rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the nozzle taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 illustrating the inner wall of the rug cleaning brush mounting chamber.

The cleaning nozzle forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a body portion I having a front wall 2, a spaced rear wall 3 connected by end walls to form a, suction air flow channel 4 therebetween. The nozzle body merges into a central tubular portion 5 at the rear side of the nozzle structure which forms a housing receiving a swivelled elbow in a conventional manner. A suction air conveying and manipulating wand l is adapted to connect the elbow 6 in a conventional manner to a flexible hose connected to a source of suction.

The lower ends of the walls of the chamber d abut a nozzle forming plate 9 provided with front and rear nozzle lips I0 and II respectively which merge at their ends into slightly lower end skids I2 for supporting the nozzle structure upon a surface to be cleaned. The nozzle plate structure is provided with a central opening I3 between the lips I0 and I I to form a passageway for cleaning air from the surface being cleaned into the interior of the nozzle structure.

The nozzle plate 9 is provided internally thereof adjacent its ends with flanges 8 extending upwardly into the chamber 4 and blocking the extreme ends thereof. This arrangement does not prevent effective use of ends of the nozzle as the flanges 8 taper downwardly to the lowermost plane of the skids I2 adjacent the outer ends thereof as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3. This arrangement adds strength and rigidity to' the structure 9 without in anywise impairing the effective use of the full usable length of the nozzle structure. The flanges 8 are anchored to the nozzle body by any suitable means such as by welding or riveting.

A rear wall I6 depends from the nozzle body rearwardly of the wall 3 to define a `chamber I5 therewith extending between and rearwardly of the end skids I2. The rear wall 3 of the nozzle structure is provided with a plurality of ribs Il projecting into the chamber I5 and terminating short of the bottom portion thereof for -a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. The nozzle plate 9 is provided with a vertically extending flange I8 which extends upwardly into the chamber I5 and is slotted as indicated at 20 to receive the ribs Il. The portion 2I of the iiange I8 between the central pair of ribs I1 terminates in chamber I5 at a lower level than the other portions of ange I8 and has an end portion 22 bent baokwardly toward the wall 3.

The central portion of the wall I6 is provided with a slot 24 within which rides a projecting portion 25 upon the back 26 of a oor brush structure carrying bristles 21. The brush structure 26-21 is mounted within the chamber I5 for slidable movement between the outer faces of the ribs I'I and the inner face of the wall I arr/4,002'

3 The engagement between the edges of the slot 24 and projection 25 prevents lateral displacement of the brush structure. The brush structure is provided with a pair of upwardly opening sockets 39 adapted to receive compression springs 3 I. The upper ends of the springs 3| are positioned within the chamber I by engaging over integrally or otherwise formed pins 32 projecting downwardly from the upper wall of the chamber. By reason of this construction the brush structure is slidably mounted within the chamber I5, is prevented from having undesirable lateral displacement therein, and is constantly urged downwardly into surface engaging position. The leading face of the brush back 2E is provided with a projecting tab 33 positioned to engage the inwardly turned endv 22 of the flange I8 and thus prevent discharge of the brush structure from the chamber I5 under the bias of lthe springs 3 I.

` A latch is provided to retain the brush in an upper, non-surface engaging, position. The latching means comprises a spring plate 35 the lower end of which is secured by a rivet 36 to the wall 3 below the upper end of the flange I8. A latch tang 3i is struck rearwardly from the upper central portion of the spring plate 35 in position to engage under the tab 33 on the brush back and to retain the brush structure in an upper position against the bias of the springs 3 I. A right angularly shaped actuating lever 35 is secured, as by rivets 3S, to an upper turned over portion of the spring tab 35. The actuating arm 38 extends through the slot 24 and the downwardly turned portion thereof is positioned to be engaged by the operators fingers for the purpose of biasing the spring latch 35 forwardly in the direction of the wall 3 to disengage the tang 3? from the projection 33 to release the brush structure and allow the spring 3i to project the same into surface engaging position. rihe ends of bristles 2l are bias cut parallel to the plane of the nozzle lips to lie flat on a surface being cleaned and to present an angular bristle face to the surface to be cleaned. The length of bristles 2'1 is insufficient to reach the lower end of chamber I5 when the brush is in upper, latched position.

The apparatus so far described comprises a complete suction cleaning tool which may be used as a straight suction device with the brush structure 26-2`I latched upwardly in the chamber I5. In this event the cleaning is accomplished entirelyby the air stream rushing under the nozzle lips I-II into the interior of the nozzle structure from whence it ows through the elbow 6, wand 'I and a exible hose into a suction creating and filtering device. In the event that material is encountered, such as thread or lint, which is difficult to remove with a straight air stream, the actuating member 38 is pressed forwardly of the nozzle which releases the brush structure and allows the springs 3| to project the same into surface engaging position. In the foregoing condition of operation the air cleaning is supplemented by the cleaning action of the brush bristles 2'! resiliently engaged with the surface being cleaned by the springs 3l.

For cleaning hard surfaces such asv wood or linoleum flooring I provide a nozzle brush 43 adapted to form an extension of the nozzle chamber in which the surface contacting walls of the nozzle are brush bristles arranged to -restrict the cleaning air flow to the region of their ends and to exert a scrubbing action on the sur- 4 face being cleaned to loosen engrained dust and grit.

The nozzle brush structure comprises a backing member 42 having a central air conducting opening 43 therein. The nozzle portion of the brush back is slightly longer than the maximum extent of the air inlet I3in the nozzle plate 9. The forward and rearward walls of this member are adapted to abut the nozzle lips IB and II at their upper edges as shown most clearly in Figure 1. The end walls of the brush structure are shaped as indicated at 45 to conform to the skid structure I2 at each end of the nozzle proper. As a result of this the backing member 42 completely seals around the nozzle opening I3 so that all air entering the chamber 4 is compelled to flow through the passageway 43. The nozzle member 42 is completely surrounded by dense brush bristles 46 projecting appreciably beyond the lower portion of the passageways 43. The brush bristles 46 are secured in any desirable manner to the backing member 42. The well known stapling method of securing the bristles is illustrated however other means may be employed if desired. The brush back 42 may be constructed of metal or plastic material as desired. The bristles 46 thus form a flexible and resilient air passageway defining skirt or wall depending rom and extending below the backing member 42 to form an extension of the passageway 43.

Each end of the brush back 42 is provided with a pair of vspaced apart projecting mounting arms 4S which abut pairs vof complementally formed pivoting lugs 49 projecting from lthe rear face of the wall I6 adjacent opposite 'ends thereof. Each pair of lugs 49 supports a pintle pin 50 upon which the associated pairs of pivoting arms 43 are swivelled. A torsion spring 52 is wound Aaround each of the pintles 50 and has one free end 53 engaging under a lportion of the brush back 42. The other free end 54 of the torsion spring 52 is secured by a bolt or other suitable means 55 to the rear wall I6 of the nozzle 'structure. The torsion Aspring is wound in such a direction -as to tend to urge the brush back to rotate into the position illustrated in Figure 2. The mounting arms 48 are spaced on opposite sides of the release. arm 38 of the latch and are 'of a length s'uic'ient to maintain the nozzle brush in spaced relation to rthe release arm and to allow operation thereof in all positions of the nozzle brush.

A pair of spaced lugs 65 projects 'from vthe edge of the brush back 42 opposite to that carrying arms 48. n Each pair of lugs 65 lmounts a'pivot pin 56 upon which is pivotally mounted a -shaped spring clamp 51. In the vposition of the apparatus shown 'in Figure 1, the clamps 51 are rotated over the forward edge of the nozzle to seat behind protuberances 58 to retain the brush lstructure 4U in position sealing around the nozzle mouth against the bias of the torsion spring 52. When the brush 40 is in the inoperative position illustrated in Figure 2 the spring Aclamps -5'I are 'rotated inside the .passageway 43 and are secured against rattling and displacement by engaging over protuberances 59. g

Referring now particularly to Figure l of the drawing it will be seen that the brush backing structure 42 is provided with a rearwardly projecting plate portion V6I which engages the free end oi the carpet brush bristles 21 when the nozzle brush 40 is inthe operative position. fAs the nozzle brush 4o is swung against the bias of the spring 52 from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 1 the plate 6| engages the ends of the brush bristles 21 and raises them within the chamber l against the bias of the spring 3 The brush 26-21 is not raised by the brush All a distance suflicient to engage the latching elements 33 and 3l' therefore the carpet brush 26-27 returns to its operative carpet engaging position immediately the brush 40 is returned to its inoperative position unless the operator has in the meantime further depressed the same in the channel l5 to engage the latching elements 33 and 37.

The present invention provides a cleaning nozzle selectively usable as a straight air cleaning element, as a combined air cleaning and carpet brushing element and as a nozzle brush element for cleaning hard plain surfaces.

The construction embodying the subject matter of the present invention is adapted to clean either deep pile fabric surfaces or hard smooth surfaces. The angularly positioned bias cut and resiliently mounted brush 2li-2'! has been found to be particularly effective for the purpose of cleaning carpets and similar fabrics. The nozzle brush 4D is particularly effectiveupon hard plain surfaces due to the scrubbing action of the dense air passageway defining bristle mass and to the fact that this bristle mass confines the cleaning air stream to the ends of the bristles directly upon the surface being cleaned.

While I have illustrated and described the invention in considerable detail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the arrangement, proportion and construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a suction air passageway therethrough terminating in a cleaning air inlet nozzle, a brush mounted on said body for movement to and from cleaning position, means biasing said brush to cleaning position, a nozzle brush structure comprising an air passageway forming member, brush structure surrounding said air passageway forming member and forming an extension thereof, means mounting said nozzle brush structure on said body for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position in which it seals around said cleaning air inlet nozzle to form an extension thereof, and means on said nozzle brush structure for shifting said first mentioned brush to a non-cleaning position when said nozzle brush is moved to cleaning position.

2. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a suction air passageway therethrough terminating in a suction air inlet cleaning nozzle, a chamber formed in said body adjacent said passageway and nozzle, a surface cleaning brush slidably mounted in said chamber, means biasing said brush in a direction to project the same from said chamber to engage a surface being cleaned, means for latching said brush in said chamber in nonsurface engaging position, a nozzle brush having a back portion provided with an air passageway therethrough and projecting bristles surrounding said passageway and forming an extension thereof, said back being shaped to engage and seal around said nozzle with said air passageways in communication through said nozzle, means mounting said nozzle brush for movement from an inoperative position in which no portion thereof is arranged to engage a surface to be cleaned to an operating position in which said back engages and seals around said nozzle and said bristles are positioned to engage a surface to be cleaned.

3. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a suction air passageway therethrough terminating in a suction air inlet cleaning nozzle, a chamber formed in said body adjacent said passageway and nozzle, a surface cleaning brush slidably mounted in said chamber, means biasing said brush in a direction to project the same from said chamber to engage a surface being cleaned, means for latching said brush in said chamber in non-surface engaging position, a nozzle brush having a back portion provided with an air passageway therethrough and projecting bristles surrounding said passageway and forming an extension thereof, said back being shaped to engage and seal around said nozzle with said air passageways in communication through said nozzle, means mounting said nozzle brush for movement from an inoperative position in which no portion thereof is arranged to engage a surface to be cleaned to an operating position in which said back engages and seals around said nozzle and said bristles are positioned to engage a surface to be cleaned, and means on said nozzle brush for engaging and depressing said first mentioned brush into said chamber to a non-surface contacting position when said nozzle brush is in operative position.

4. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a suction air passageway therethrough terminating in a suction air inlet cleaning nozzle, a chamber formed in said body adjacent said passageway and nozzle, a surface cleaning brush slidably mounted in said chamber, means biasing said brush in a direction to project the same from said chamber to engage a surface being cleaned, means for latching said brush in said chamber in non-surface engaging position, means projecting rearwardly of said nozzle body for operating said latching means to release said brush to be projected by said biasing means to surface engaging position, a nozzle brush having a back portion provided with an air passageway therethrough and projecting bristles surrounding said passageway and forming an extension thereof, said back being shaped to engage and seal around said nozzle with said air passageways in communication through said nozzle, means mounting said nozzle brush for movement from an inoperative position in which no portion thereof is arranged to engage a surface to be cleaned to an operating position in which said back engages and seals around said nozzle and said bristles are positioned to engage a surface to be cleaned, and means on said nozzle brush for engaging and depressing said rst mentioned brush into said chamber to a non-surface contacting position when said nozzle brush is in operative position.

5. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a suction air passageway therethrough terminating in a suction air inlet cleaning nozzle, a chamber formed in said body adjacent said passageway and nozzle, a surface cleaning brush slidably mounted in said chamber, means biasing said brush in a direction to project the same from said chamber to engage a surface being cleaned, means for latching said brush in said chamber in non-surface engaging position, means projecting rearwardly of said nozzle body for operating said latching means to release said brush to be projected by said biasing means to surface engaging position, a nozzle brush having a back portion provided with an air passageway therethrough and projecting bristles surrounding said passageway and forming an extension thereof, said back being shaped to engage and seal around said nozzle with said air passageways in communication through said nozzle, spaced arms on said nozzle brush projecting from the back thereof and pivotally connected to the rear of said nozzle body for pivotal movement between an inoperative position in which no portion thereof is positioned to engage a surface to be cleaned and an operative position in which said back seals around said nozzle and said bristles are positioned to engage a surface to be cleaned, means biasing said nozzle brush to inoperative position, said arms holding said nozzle brush in spaced relation to said latching means, and means for retaining said nozzle brush in operative position against the force of said biasing means.

6. A cleaning tool for use with suction cleaning apparatus comprising a body member having a suction air passageway therethrough terminating in a suction air surface cleaning nozzle, a brush, means slidably mounting said brush on said body member for movement toward and away from surface engaging position, means biasing said brush to surface engaging position, an auxiliary surface cleaning means associated with said body member, said auxiliary means including a nozzle plate member formed with an air passageway therethrough and having one face thereof shaped to engage said body member to seal around said cleaning nozzle with said nozzle communicating with the air passageway in said plate member, means forming a flexible and resilient wall projecting from the opposite face of said plate .member and surrounding the air passageway through said plate member, means movably mounting said auxiliary means on said body for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position in which said plate member is engaged with said body member to seal around said cleaning nozzle and said flexible and resilient wall member is in surface engaging position, and means on said auxiliary cleaning means for retracting said brush from surface engaging position when said auxiliary cleaning means is in operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 18,538 Martinet July 19, 1932 943,424 Lacock Dec. 14, 1909 1,567,432 English Dec. 29, 1925 1,694,273 Martinet Dec. 4, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 699,332 Germany Nov. 27, 1940 

